‘Flogging father’ pleads guilty

Ebenezer Osei Bonsu, the 26-year-old father who severely flogged his three-year-old child for damaging his phone and wetting his bed, has pleaded guilty to assault and causing harm.

Bonsu had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges when he first appeared before the Kumasi Circuit Court on May 14, this year. He, however, changed his plea to guilty at yesterday’s hearing.

It was said that Bonsu used a cane and a cable to whip the child, causing injuries to his head and back.

Images of the severe injuries suffered by the child caused an uproar on social media, with people wondering why a father could inflict such harm on his own child.

Conviction

Following Bonsu’s plea of guilty, the court, presided over by Ms Patricia Amponsah, convicted him on his own plea.

The court, however, deferred sentencing to June 9, 2020.

Under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), causing harm is a second-degree felony which carries a prison term not exceeding 10 years, while assault is a misdemeanour which carries a prison term not exceeding three years.

Facts

The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecutor, Inspector Regina Oparebea Amoako, were that the accused and the complainant, Barbara Obeng, were former students of the Komfo Anokye Senior High School who were in a relationship for a while that produced a son, the victim.

She said Bonsu, who is currently doing his national service in Accra, often went to Kumasi during weekends.

He said on April 9, this year, Bonsu went for the child to spend his birthday with him at his place.

However, she said, after the birthday, Bonsu refused to return the boy to Barbara, as he usually did.

Barbara, in turn, reported to the police, who went to pick the child and realised that he had cuts and swellings on his body.